Improvement in saddles



H. RUWART.

SADDLE.

Patented March 27,1877.

momma N, PETERS, PHOTO LITNOGRAPHER, WA HINGTON, D C.

HENRY RUWYART, OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN SADDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [88,961, dated MarchFebruary 22, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RowAR'r, of Jefferson City, in the county ofCole and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Saddle; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this specification, in which--- Figure 1 is aside view, partly in section, showing the pommel applied by means of thedevices. Fig. 2 is a partial end view, showing the horns applied for aladys use; Fig. 3, a top detail view of the plate attached to thesaddle-tree; Fig, 4, a bottom detail view of the plate carried by thepommel and horns.

My invention relates to certain improvements in saddle-trees, designedto render the saddle convertible at will into either a gentlemenssaddle, a ladies saddle, or a muly or harness saddle.

The improvement consists in constructing the tree at its front end,opposite the cantle, with a key and a locking-bolt, and the pommel,horns, or cap with a bottom plate, provided with a slot corresponding tothe key, and a perforation or recess for the lockingbolt, so that whenthe pommel or its equivalent is placed upon the tree and turned aroundto a given position it is securely at tached to the saddle-tree.

In the drawing, A represents the saddletree, the body of which is o! theusual form, and is neatly and strongly finished with a covering ofrawhide. Upon the front upper portion of the tree is arranged a metallicplate, strongly secured to the tree by screws, which plate carries uponits upper surface a key, B, having diametrically-projecting lugs or bitsto a. Upon the bottom of said plate, and between the plate and the bodyof the tree, is arranged a spring, which carries a short verticallocking-bolt, b, which passes through a perforation in the plate, whilethe rear end of the spring projects at 0 through a recess in the tree,so as to be depressed for the operation of the locking-bolt.

O is the detachable pommel, which, when 27, 1877; application filedplaced upon the tree, forms a gentlemans saddle; and O is the detachableset of horns, which, when placed upon the tree, forms a ladys saddle.Both the poinmel and horns are provided with a base-plate, D, of stoutmetal, firmly secured thereto, which plate is provided with an opening,01, corresponding to and adapted to receive the key B, and also aperforation, 0, corresponding to and adapted to receive the end of thelockingbolt 11.

Now, when the pommel or set of horns is applied to the tree the openingat receives the end of the key, and when the said pommel is turned aquarter of a revolution the lugs or bits a a of the key are turned uponthe upper edges of the opening in the plate D, while the springlocking-bolt b enters the perforation e of the plate, to hold it in itsfastened position and prevent it from turning back again.

To remove either the pommel or the horns for the purpose of substitutingthe other, end 0 of the spring is depressed by the finger to withdrawthe locking-bolt from the plate D, and the pommel or set of horns, asthe case may be, is simply turned backward onequarter of a revolution,until the lugs or bits of the key are in such position as to be removedfrom the opening in the pommel or horn plate.

From the above description it will be seen that, while the saddle isreadily convertible into either a gentlemaus or a ladys saddle, theconnection between the detachable parts is calculated to render the sameas secure and as durable as if the whole were made in one piece.

By removing both the horns and the pomnlel also, and substituting forthem a cap provided with a similar plate, D, the saddle-tree may bereadily converted into a muly or harness saddle tree, which renders thedevice capable of varied and extensive use.

I am aware of the patent to J. M. Flaut, November 29, 1864, in which isshown a sad die that is intended to be convertible either for a ladys orgentlemans use; but the construction and arrangement is difierent fromlent, as described, having a base-plate, prothat employed by me, and Itherefore disvided with an opening for the key and a perclaim the same.foration for the locking-bolt, substantially as Having thus described myinvention, what and for the purpose described.

I claim as new is- HENRY RUWART.

The saddle-tree provided with a plate car- Witnesses: rying a key, B,and a spring locking-bolt, b, A. VAN HALL,

in combination with a pommel or its equiva- HENRY SCHMIDT.

